Premium
The non‐proteolytically active thrombin peptide TP508 stimulates angiogenic sprouting
Author(s) -
Vartanian Keri B.,
Chen Helen Y.S.,
Kennedy Janelle,
Beck Shaleen K.,
Ryaby James T.,
Wang Hali,
Hoying James B.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.20442
Subject(s) - peptide , thrombin , sprouting , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biochemistry , biology , botany , immunology , platelet
Abstract Thrombin is a serine protease that promotes platelet aggregation, blood coagulation, and tissue repair. A peptide derived from a non‐proteolytically active region of thrombin, TP508, also promotes tissue repair and increased vascularity, yet does not activate platelet and inflammatory cascades. TP508 binds to cells with high affinity and stimulates cells independent of the proteolytically active thrombin receptors (PARs) and thus is considered to activate a non‐proteolytically active receptor (non‐PAR) pathway. Using a model of angiogenic sprouting, we further defined the angiogenic potential of TP508 and investigated the role of non‐proteolytic, thrombin‐mediated pathways in angiogenesis. The assay involves measuring angiogenic sprouting from cultured, intact microvessel fragments. In this assay, TP508 stimulated angiogenic sprouting to an extent similar to or greater than the potent angiogenic factor, VEGF. However, TP508 had no significant effect on the number of sprouts that formed per vessel. In contrast to TP508, proteolytically active receptor agonists had no effect or inhibited angiogenic sprouting. The increased sprouting activity stimulated by TP508 was VEGF dependent but did not involve an increase in VEGF mRNA expression above baseline levels. These results suggest that TP508 acts early in angiogenesis and directly on microvascular cells to accelerate sprouting, but not to induce more sprouting, in a manner different than the intact thrombin molecule. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.